Question

What is the most important genetic factor influencing whether someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease?

stress

age

exercise

ethnicity
Which of the following are environmental factors that can influence whether someone develops Alzheimer’s disease? Check all that apply.

age

exercise

gender

diet

ethnicity

social interaction

Answer 1

Short answer — clarify the first question:
- If you really mean the single most important genetic factor: APOE ε4 (and for rare early‑onset familial Alzheimer’s, mutations in APP, PSEN1 or PSEN2).
- If you meant the single most important overall risk factor (not genetic): age is by far the biggest risk factor.

Note: none of the four choices you listed for question 1 (stress, age, exercise, ethnicity) is a genetic factor. Age is the strongest overall risk factor among those options.

Second question — environmental factors (check all that apply):
- Exercise — yes (regular physical activity is associated with lower dementia risk).
- Diet — yes (patterns like Mediterranean/MIND diets are linked with reduced risk).
- Social interaction — yes (social and cognitive engagement are protective).

Not environmental:
- Age — a non‑modifiable biological/demographic risk factor.
- Gender — a biological/demographic factor (women have higher prevalence).
- Ethnicity — reflects complex genetic, social, and healthcare/SES differences rather than a simple environmental factor.

If you want, I can expand on APOE ε4, the early‑onset genes, or the strength of evidence for each modifiable factor.